The Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth as a Predictor of Recidivism in a United Kingdom Ccohort of Adolescent Offenders with Conduct Disorder

Dolan, Mairead C.; Rennie, Charlotte E.

Psychological Assessment, v20 n1 p35-46 Mar 2008

This prospective study examined the predictive validity of the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY) and the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL: YV) in 99 male adolescents who were assessed in custody and followed up 12 months post release. Outcome data on recidivism were based on official Home Office records. The base rates for violent and general recidivism, respectively, were 38.4% and 70.7%. The predictive validity of the SAVRY Risk Total and the SAVRY Risk Rating was moderate for both violent and general recidivism, but both showed incremental validity in predicting outcomes compared with the PCL: YV. Data are discussed in relation to the limited published international literature.